Adjustable shelf



April 10, 1956 R. L. DILLS 2,741,370

ADJUSTABLE SHELF Filed May 25, 1953 Inventor-z Ragmond L. Dills,

1 5 u His Attorne United States PatentO ADJUSTABLE SHELF Raymond L. Dills, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application May 25, 1953, Serial No. 356,975

4 Claims. (Cl. 211-90) My invention relates to shelves and pertains more particularly to adjustable shelves.

In some cabinet constructions, such as household refrigerators, it is desirable to provide shelves which are adjustable for varying the spacing therebetween in accordance with the height of items or objects to be stored on the shelves.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a new and improved arrangement for adjusting a shelf.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable shelf arrangement including means for facilitating adjustments to the shelves.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable shelf arrangement which is simple in construction and may be inexpensively manufactored.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to, and forming part of, this specification.

In carrying out the objects of my invention, I provide guide means having a shelf slidably arranged thereon. Slidably carried by the shelf is a locking member. The locking member is also slidably arranged on the guide means and includes a resilient bowed portion the end of which bears against a portion of the shelf and effectively biases the shelf and locking member into effective locking engagement with the guide means for maintaining the shelf in any adjusted position thereon. Compression of the bowed portion disengages the locking member and the guide means for permitting adjustments to the position of the shelf.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet having my invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating details of my invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the locking member in effective locking engagement with the guide rods;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the locking member in its released position;

. Fig. 5 is a detailed view illustrating a modified form of guide rod; and

. Fig. 6 is a detailed view of another modified form of guide rod.

. Referring to the drawing, I have shown in Fig. l a refrigerator cabinet 1, including a food storage compartment 2. Provided for closing an access opening to the food storage compartment 2 and hung on the cabinet 1 by a pair of hinges 3 is a door 4. Formed in the inner side of the door 4 is an enlarged recess 5 having a plurality of shelves 6 mounted therein. For purposes of illustration, I have shown and shall describe my invention in connection with the door mounted shelves 6. It is to be 2 understood, however, that my invention is equally applicable to other types of shelves. For instance, it could be employed in providing adjusting means for shelves located in the food storage compartment 2.

As best seen in Fig. 2, each shelf 6 is such that it may be formed of moulded plastics or any sheet material and includes a bottom or supporting surface 7, and side walls 8 and a front wall 9 for retaining articles thereon. No rear wall is provided since the rear edge of the shelf is adapted for being positioned immediately adjacent the inner side of the door 4 which in the present construction would be the bottom of the recess 5.

Adjacent each side wall 8 the bottom of the shelf is formed to include an elongated aperture 10 which extends parallel to the side walls. The aperture 10 is so formed as to provide a pendent flanged edge 11, each end of which includes a horizontal slot 12. The slots 12 are aligned and the purpose therefor will be seen hereinafter. Provided for extending through each aperture 10 is a guide means generally designated 13 and preferably comprising a pair of parallel spaced apart guide members or rods 14. The spacing of each pair of guide rods 14 is such that each rod is disposed in a corresponding end of one of the apertures 10. Thus the shelf 6 is arranged for sliding movement on the guide means 13 and more specifically on the pair of rods 14 comprising the guide means 13.

As seen in Figsl and 2, each pair of rods 14 may be formed as integral parts of a single rod-like member 15 bent to provide the pair of parallel spaced apart rods. The members 15 are each further bent to provide an upper mounting loop 16 and a lower mounting loop 17. Screws 18 fitted in the loops 16 and 17 are provided for mounting the guide means carrying the shelves 6 on the inner side of the door 4 in the recess 5. and 17 are so bent toward the door 4 as to provide satis factory spacing between the rear edges of the shelves and the door.

In the arrangement described to this point, the shelves 6 are slidably arranged on the guide rods 14. To lock or maintain each of the shelves 6 in any desired adjusted position on the guide rods and thereby obtain satisfactory adjustment in spacing between the shelves, I have provided locking members or slides 19. The locking members 19 are slidably positioned in the above-mentioned aligned horizontal slots 12 in the pendent flanged edges 11 of the apertures 10 in the bottoms of the shelves. In this manner the locking slides are slidably carried by the shelves and disposed in the apertures 10. Each slide 19 is formed to include a spaced apart pair of co-extensive elongated slots 29, through each of which extends one of the guide rods 14. Thus, the locking slides 19 are also arranged for sliding movement on the guide rods 14.

The locking slides 19 are preferably formed of a resilient material such as spring steel and each includes a bowed portion 21 extending upwardly in front of the front wall 9 of its respective shelf. The end of the bowed portion 21 resiliently bears on or engages the front wall 9 of the shelf and thereby biases the slide 19 outwardly from the refrigerator door 4. In this manner the shelf 6 is urged toward the door for bringing the forward edge of the aperture 10 into engagement with the corresponding guide rod and urging the locking slide 19 outwardly from the door for bringing the rear edges of the elongated slots 20 therein into engagement with the rods 14. The resilient material from which the slides 19 are formed and the design of the bowed portions 21 could be such that friction resulting from the just-described engagement between the various portions of the shelf and slides and the guide rods 14 should be suflicient for maintaining the shelf in any adjusted position on the guide rods. However, in order to Patented Apr. 10, 1956 The loops 16 enable the employment of material" of less resilience in forming the slides 19 and in order to insure the efiectiveness of the locking slides, I prefer employing means for providingipositive' engagement between the locking: slides and guide rods; Accordingly, as seen in Figs. 3: and 4, I have'formed the rear edges of the elongated slots 20 as chisel edges, indicated by 22. The chisel edges 22' are adapted, when urgedv into engagement with the guide rods, for biting into and thereby obtaining. positive engagement with the guide rods; It will be: understood, of course, that with this'provision" the guide rods 13 must be formed of a less hard material: than: the locking slides. engagement between the locking; slides and guide rods may alternatively be obtained by employing; a modified guide rod of the type shown inFig. 5 and designated 14a.- Therod 14a is formed to provide a plurality ofirregularities in the form of serrations 23 on the edge thereof adapted for being engaged: by the rear edge of the correspondingv slot in the locking slide 19. By thisan'angernent posi tive engagement between. thelockingi slides and guide rods may be insured. Another modified form of guide rodv for insuring positive engagement with the locking slide is shown in Fig. 6 and designated 14b. The rod 14b is knurled for providing a plurality of irregularities or an irregular surface to be engaged by the rear edge of the slot 20 of the locking slide 19.

When it is desired to: adjust one of the shelves 6 for varying the spacing between it and one above or below it, theuser may simply press inwardly on the bowed portion; 21 of the locking slide 19 on either side of the shelf. This renders the bowed portions ineffective and actuates the locking slides 19 rearwardly toward the door for moving; them out of engagement with the guide rods. Thus, the shelf 6 is freed for sliding movement and adjustment on the guide rods and will remain so freed until pressure on the bowed portions of the locking slides is relieved. At that time, the bowed portions 21 will again be effective Positive apart. guide rods extending through said. aperture. in. said. shelf whereby said shelf is slidably arranged on said guide rods, and a resilient locking member carried slidably by said shelf, said locking member including a pair of spaced apart elongated slots having said guide rods extending therethrough, said locking member further including a bowed portion, the end of said bowed portion engaging said front wall of said shelf and biasing said shelf and locking member into engagement with said guide rods thereby to maintain said: shelf. at an adjusted position on said guide rods, said locking memberbeingiactuatable by an application of pressure onsaid bowed portion for overcoming the effect of saidbowed portion thereby to permit adjustment of the position. of. said Shelf onsaid guide rods.

3. In an adjustable shelf construction, a shelf including a front wail, said shelf further including an elongated aperture, guide means comprising a pair of spaced apart guide rods extending through: said aperture in said shelf, and a resilient locking member" carried slidably by said shelf, said locking member including a pair of spaced apart elongated slots having said guide rods extending therethrough, said elongated slots including chisel edges, said locking member further including: a bowed portion, the end of said bowed portion engaging said front wall of: said shelf and biasing said chisel" edges i'nto biting engagement with said guide rods thereby to maintain such. shelf-t at an adjusted position on said guide rods, said locking member being actuatable by' an application of pressure-0n:- said bowed portion for overcoming, the effect of said bowed portion thereby to disengage said chisel edges and said guide rods and permit adjustment of the position of said shelf on. said guide rods. 7

for bringing the shelf and slides into engagement with the I guide rods for maintaining the shelf positioned on the guide rod-s.

It will be seen that my above-described arrangement provides for easy adjustment to the shelves. Additionally it is of simple inexpensive construction and may be easily assembled. 7

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of. my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular form shown and described, and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope. of my invention.

What I claim as. new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an adjustable. shelf construction, a shelf including a front wall, guide. meanshaving said shelf slidably arranged thereon, and. a resilient locking member carried slidably by said shelf, .said locking member including, a chisel edge, said locking member further including a bowed portion, the end: of said bowed. portion engaging said front wall of said shelf and biasing said chisel edge into biting engagement. with said guide means thereby to maintain said shelf at an; adjusted position. on said guide means, saidlocking member being actuatable by an application. of pressure on said bowed portion for overcoming the effect of said bowed portionthereby to disengage said chisel edge. and said guide means and permit adjustment of the position of said shelf on said guide means.

2. In an adjustable shelf. construction, a shelf, saidv shelf including a front wall, said shelf further including an elongated aperture, guide means. comprising a. pair of spaced 4. In an adjustable shelf construction, a shelf including a frontwail, said: shelf further including an elongated aperture therein, said elongated aperture including a dependent flanged edge, said flanged edge including aligned slots in the ends thereof, guide means comprising apairof spaced apart guide: rods extending through. saicl'aperture in said shelf, a resilient locking member slidably positioned in said slots in said flanged edge, said lockingv member in.- cluding: a pair of spaced apart elongated. slots having said guide: rods extending therethrough whereby said locking member is also slidabiy arranged on said guide rods,- the rear edges of said elongated slotsbeing. formed as chisel edges, said. locking member further including a bowed portion, the end of. said bowed portion engaging said front wall. of said shelf and biasing. said chisel edges into biting engagement with said guide rods thereby to maintainsueli shelf at an adjusted position on said guide rods, said lock;- ing member being actuatable by an application of pressure on said. bowed portion for overcoming the effect: of said bowed portion thereby to disengage said chisel edges and said guide rods and permit adjustment of the position of said shelf on said guide rods.

References Citedv in. the file of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Norberget al July 24, 1951 

